Poligar System & Revolt of Pulithevar

Poligars(Palayakarars) Wars

Origin of Poligar System:

• This system was introduced by Pradaparudran of warrangal, in the Kakatiya Kingdom.
• In Tamil Nadu this system introduced by Viswanatha Nayak, the ruler of Madurai with the help of his minister Periyanathar in 1529.
• Palayam means a domain, a military camp or a little kingdom.
• Traditionally there were 72 Palayakarars in Tamil Nadu.
• They entitled to collect revenue, administer the territory, settle dispute & maintain law and order.
• The revenue divided into 1/3 for Nayak, 1/3 for army & remaining for themselves.
• They maintained their own army and when they would help Nayak rulers in case of war.
• There were two blocs in Tamil Nadu Palayams.

1. Eastern Palayams – Ruled by Telugu Palayakarars. Sattur,Nagalapuram, Ettayapuram, Panchalangurichi.
2. Western Palayams – Ruled by Tamil Maravar Palayakarars. Uthumalai,Thalavaikottai, Naduvakurichi, Singampatti, Nerkattum Seval.

Revolt of Poligars or Palayakarars (1755 – 1801)

• The Nawab of Carnatic gave the right to collect the taxes from Palayams of Tamil Nadu to British after Carnatic treaty 1792.
• The result was the outbreak of the revolt of Palayakarars.

Revolt of Pulithevar (1759-1761)

• He was the Palayakarar of the Nerkattum Sevval near Tirunelvelli.
• He refused to pay the tribute neither to Mohammed Ali, the Nawab of Arcot nor to the English
• The Nawab Mohammed Ali sent his brother Mahfuzkhan under Colonel Heron in 1755 to capture Madurai.
• They captured Madurai & instructed to control Pulithevar. But due to insufficient troops Heron did not attack Nerkattum Sevval.
• Pulithevar started a confederacy against Nawab and company.
• He was supported by Mianah, Mudimaiah & Nabikhan Kattak the representative of Nawab Chanda Sahib. Many palayams joined the confederacy except Sivagiri, Ettaiyapuram and Panchalankurichi.
• Hyder Ali could not help Pulithevar as he promised due to the war against Marathas.

Kalakkadu Battle 1761

• Nawab & company sent a combined troop under Mafuzkhan against confederacy of Pulithevar.
• Both troops met at Kalakkadu and Pulithevar defeated British troops.
• Pulithevar was the first Indian king who have defeated the British in India.
• Yusuf Khan (Khan Shahib or Marudhanayagam) the captain of British captured Nerkattum Seval, Vasudevanallur & Panayur in 1761.
• Yusuf Khan was negotiating with palayakarars without informing the company administration, was charged with treachery & hanged in 1764.
• After the death of Yusuf Khan Pulithevar recaptured Nerkattum Sevval in 1764.
• But in 1767 Captain Campbell captured Nerkattum Sevval and Pulithavar escaped and died in exile.

Yuzuf Khan

• Real Name – Marudhanayagam, Birth: Ramanathapuram.
• Converted to Islam in Pondicherry against castism.
• From 1756 to 1761 he acted as the governor of Madurai & Tirunelveli.
• He defeated Hyder Ali and captured Sozhavanthan.
• He encouraged Textile industry in Madurai.
• He donated money to temples & revived many temple lands from Priests.
• He killed by British with charge of treason in 1764.

Ondiveeran:

• He led one of the troops of Pulithevar and defeated British.
• His hand was chopped off in the battle and he accepted it as his reward against Battle of British.